We're not alone with our rental problems
You'll be happy to know that our short-term rental issues are right up there with one of the major cities in the world and for mostly the same reasons.
In spite of fears of terrorism since 911, New York City continues to be one of the most visited places on earth. Just imagine 50 million annual visitors to an island that is 13.4 miles long and just 2.3 miles wide. By comparison, Anna Maria Island is 7 miles long and 2 miles wide, not that much smaller than Manhattan. So where do these 50 million stay during the course of the year? It's a problem that has been somewhat addressed by Airbnb.
Airbnb is an online community marketplace that connects people looking to rent their homes or space within their homes with people who are looking for accommodations. It has been hugely successful and fills a much needed void for visitors to New York and other expensive regions who can't afford a $400 a night hotel room.
However, New York's Gov., Andrew Cuomo signed a bill penalizing some Airbnb hosts with steep fines up to $7,500 targeting Airbnb advertisers. The fines are levied in violation of a state law that was passed in 2010, but never enforced, that bars rentals under 30 days in multiunit New York City buildings if the owner or tenant isn't home during the guest's stay.
People who support the bill point out that Airbnb has exacerbated a shortage of affordable housing by turning them into short term rentals. In addition, residents of Airbnb units frequently complain that they have no idea who may be living next door to them on an almost daily basis, creating noise and other quality of life issues.
People against the bill say that tourists and students are losing out on the ability to travel to New York, as well as not providing a stream of income for homeowners who may need the extra funds. Not surprisingly, shortly after the bill was signed, a lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court alleging that the bill "imposes significant immediate burdens and irreparable harm on Airbnb."
All of this sounds familiar to residents of Anna Maria, who have been fighting the short-term rental war for several years now. All three cities are either looking at ways to limit the renters or have already imposed restrictions about parking, quiet hours, limits on number of people renting one property, as well as time restrictions. This has created the flood of Bert Harris lawsuits also claiming burdens, irreparable harm and loss of income on property owners.
Anna Maria also has its share of vacation properties advertised on Airbnb and Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) in addition to local real estate companies. So far, I haven't read anything about restrictions specifically aimed at these on-line marketplaces. Where this will all end if it ever ends is an ongoing discussion, with pros and cons on both sides.
You may not actually be happy about New York City's problems, but you can certainly sympathize with them. When you're fortunate to live someplace where everyone wants to visit, whether it's a city or a beach, your life will be impacted by those visitors who just want a piece of the action. A good thing to remember as the traffic creeps along on Gulf Drive next month.